FORT COLLINS – Depth was the talk of the preseason and first few weeks of the regular season. Seven weeks in to the season it is being tested in a way no one imagined.

Senior tackle Paul Madsen (knee) is the latest in a long line of injuries CSU has suffered this season. Madsen, a team captain, is out for Saturday’s game at Texas-El Paso and is expected to be out significant time, according to head coach Steve Fairchild.

“He will not be available Saturday,” Fairchild said. “We do hope to have him back prior to the end of the year.”

Madsen suffered what Fairchild called a sprained knee during the Boise State game. His initial estimation, on Saturday night, was Madsen would miss three weeks. Fairchild did say Madsen’s absence would change how CSU’s offense operates, specifically in the personnel groupings that can be used and some of the plays that can be run. So things are going to get tougher for an already inconsistent Rams offense without Madsen being in the mix.

Meanwhile, linebacker Mike Orakpo is questionable for this weekend’s contest at Texas-El Paso due to a concussion. The sophomore will have to pass a battery of tests before he could be cleared to play in the game.

Defensive tackle Nuku Latu (knee) experienced a setback during the Boise State game. His status for Saturday is questionable, as is DT John Froland’s. Froland continues to deal with an ankle injury he suffered against San Jose State. He did not play against Boise State.

“I’m never going to use the injuries as an excuse, but we’ve been a little up-and-down,” Fairchild said. “I looked up one time and I think there were 15 guys that we would have had on the field that weren’t available during (the Boise State) game. That’s probably lent itself to our inconsistency.”

Follow Chris Dempsey on Twitter @dempseypost or email him at cdempsey@denverpost.com

Kensler joined The Denver Post in 1989 and has covered a variety of beats, including Colorado, Colorado State, golf, Olympics and the Denver Broncos. His brush with greatness: losing in a two-on-two pickup basketball game at Ohio State against two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin.

Terry Frei graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in the Denver area and has degrees in history and journalism from the University of Colorado-Boulder. He worked for the Rocky Mountain News while attending CU and joined the Post staff after graduation. He has also worked at the Oregonian in Portland, Ore., and The Sporting News. His seventh book, March 1939: Before the Madness, was issued in February 2014.